SINGAPORE — StarHub customers can soon look forward to a faster and smoother surfing experience in crowded areas: By the end of next year, the telco will deploy its heterogeneous network infrastructure (HetNet) — which will include mini base stations that boost 4G coverage — at malls and hospitals across the island.

In a boost to Singapore’s Smart Nation ambitions, StarHub’s 4G Hetnet, which will have traditional ­mobile base stations as well as mini base stations known as small cells, will be rolled out at about 40 commercial buildings, malls and hospitals.

Deploying Hetnet means people can surf on the move seamlessly, as it will enable Internet connections on mobile devices to switch across different types of network, depending on where users are, for example, from home Wi-Fi to their telcos’ 4G through to public Wi-Fi and small cells.

Unlike traditional base stations, which can only be placed at certain locations, small cells — about one-eighth the size — can be fixed on ceilings, so surfing speeds will not suffer when an area gets crowded. Places to initially be covered by the network will include Nex and Jem, as well as KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

“We are selecting malls and areas with high traffic. For hospitals, the network will be mostly in waiting and retail areas,” said Mr Mock Pak Lum, StarHub chief technology officer.

StarHub initially rolled out its 4G HetNet at the Marina Bay area, in time for major events such as F1 and the SG50 Jubilee weekends. Surfing speeds went up to about 300mbps, as compared to the usual typical speeds of up to 100mbps.

The telco said it will continue to ­expand its HetNet to cover Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay City Gallery and The Promontory@Marina Bay.

“With small cells as a cost-effective means of boosting network capacity and speeds, we plan to ­deploy more HetNets with the help of our infrastructure partners, Huawei and Nokia Networks, to ­ensure mobile service quality for our customers and to catalyse Singapore’s Smart Nation innovations,” Mr Mock said.

Small cells will also be tested as part of StarHub’s HetNet trials in Jurong Lake District, a Smart ­Nation initiative aimed at realising the vision of people surfing on the move without disruption. Trials by the three telcos and fibre broadband service provider MyRepublic will involve testing HetNet at places such as lifts, pedestrian walkways, bus interchanges and MRT stations. In June, M1 also ­announced it will deploy small cells at hundreds of malls, commercial buildings and MRT stations ­between next year and 2017.